Catamenial sack.



No. 780,598. PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905. M. E. COLEMAN & M. JARMULOWSKY.

GATAMENIAL'SAGK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

No. 780,598. PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905. M. E. COLEMAN (2M. JARMULOWSKY.

GATAMENIAL SACK. APPLICATION FILED nov. 2. 190s.

' 28HEEI'S-BHBET 2.

. Junk/mm? QXMMe/woo: wow, LEM

UNITED STATES Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MARY E. COLEMAN AND MEYER JARMULOWSKY, oE NEW YORK, N. Y.

CATAMENIAL. SACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,598, dated. January 24, 1905.

Application filed November 2, 1903. Serial No. 179,581.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MARY E. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, and MEYER J AR- MULOWSKY, asubject of the Czar of Russia, both residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a CatamenialSack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in catamenial sacks or, in other words, a bandage or shield for use by-the female during the menstrual periods.

The objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and be particularly pointed out in the claims.

' Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a general or perspective view of the device as it would appear when in position, one form of absorbent device being shown in position therein by means of dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the preferred form of absorbent-device envelop. Fig. 3 is a detail of an absorbent device which may be employed in connection with the envelop. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sack disconnected and laid flat. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The sack may be produced from any material desired; but we prefer to make the same of stockinet or some other absorbent and sanitary fabric.

The device in outline is best illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein, it will be seen, the same cons'ists of a central main or saddle-shaped section 1 of a width as will adapt it to fit between the legs of the wearer. Therefore from its front to about its middle it is of substantially uniform width; but from the latter point toward its rear it is gradually widened to follow the curves formed by the flanks of the wearer. This gradual widening produces two essential things"namely, it produces opposite inwardly-curved edges at the sides of the section in rear of the middle and a wide rear protecting portion 2, the edges of which latter are outwardly curved, said protecting portion extending well over and substantially covering the posterior of the wearer. At the front and rear are produced attaching-flaps 3 and 4, respectively, the front being narrower and the whole provided with a suitable binding to preserve the shape and lend'durability. A whalebone 1* may be inserted in binding at edge of rear flap. (See dotted lines, Fig. 5.) At its center the section 1 is preferably provided. with an elongated depression 5, molded between its edges for the purpose of receiving and retaining the absorbent pad hereinafter described or any other which may be preferred. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) By cutting the blank from which the section 1 is formed crosswise the material the latter may be readily molded to produce the concavity or depression 5. A central and two side buttons 6 and 7, respectively, may be attached to the rear flap 4:, the central button, for purposes hereinafter obvious,preferably being attached at the in ner side of the flap. Suitable button- .holes 8 may be formed in the front flap 3, and a button 9 may be attached between the two at the inner side of the flap.

A waistband 10 may be employed, the same, as shown in Fig. 1, being preferably tapered or, in other words, slightly enlarged at its lower edge, which enables the wearer to use it with more comfort than a plain belt and also to locate it at the waist-line or lower down upon the hips. This band 10 is provided with any usual adjusting means, such as a buckle 11. From the front of the band 10 depend inwardly-disposed preferably elastic tapes 12, the same having buttons 13 attached thereto and adapted to engage the buttonholes 8 in the front flap. A series of three elastic tapes or straps 14 depend from the rear of the waistband, and each may have one or a plurality of buttonholes 15 to engage with the buttons 6 and 7', thus providing a'ready means for adjusting the sack to the size of the person.

It will be apparent that through the instrumentality of the elastic tapes or straps the device will be held snugly yet yieldingly in po sition and also that by the peculiar formation ascribed the section 1that is, widening it from a point near its middle backwardthe person using the same may stand, sit, or re- V velop.

cline without danger of the flow running over the edges, be such flow ever so copious. In this manner under as well as outer clothing and bedding are prevented from becoming soiled.

As a further preventative we may also attach to or form integral with the opposite edges of the section 1 and extending throughout such portion thereof as come between the legs semicircular shields 16, preferably of the same absorbent material, which shields lend additional safeguard and also obviate the disagreeable chafing so common.

The inner edges of the shields 16 are curved similarly to the curved edges of the saddlesection 1that is, concavedso that when these two edges are attached the wings or shields assume a curved position, whereby they are designed to conform to the legs of the user, and thus produce an efficient protector.

Within the device thus produced may be held or contained any well-known absorbentas, for instance, the usual napkin, the pad usually sold at stores for such purpose, or our improved absorbent envelop. (Illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4E.)

For the purpose of maintaining the device in shape and also for producing a ready and convenient means of retention for the absorbent, whatever the shape or style of the latter may be, we prefer to cross each flap 3 and 4 of the sack with non-elastic tapes 18, connecting the same at their edges by the binding and connecting the tapes of each series at their middles by longitudinal tapes 18. Under the straps thus arranged may be tucked or inserted the ends of an ordinary napkin, the said straps serving to keep the napkin in position without the aid of pins. The thick portion of the napkin or that eomingin direct or immediate contact with the flow will be contained within the depression 5. WVhile the usual napkin or any other absorbent may be employed in connection with our sack, yet we prefer to employ a special device 19, devised by us and which we have termed an en- This envelop (see Figs. 2 and at) consists of a tapered enveloping portion 20, having flaps 21 and reduced front and rear attaching ends 22. This device is preferably formed of medicated birds-eye or other suitable medicated material and as a whole is tapered, so as to conform somewhat to the portion 1 of the sack. The blank from which it is formed is folded or doubled upon itself, forming an envelop or pocket into which may be inserted any absorbent, such as cotton, a cloth, or a sponge 24:, (see Fig. 3,) which is preferably fiat and cut to shape. hen thus positioned, the retaining-flaps 21 are tucked within, one over sponge or pad, thus serving to prevent any undesired accidental displacement of the absorbing-pad. The reduced ends of this envelop are inserted under the opposite series of straps 17 and buttoned to the buttons 6 and 9, whereby it is safely kept in position during the wearing of the device or any manipulation thereof.

For the accommodation of nature the entire front may be readily detached from the buttons 13 and dropped, or the elasticity of the supporting-tapes will permit of the lateral stretching of the sack, so as to uncover the parts.

During the day the waistband 10 may be omitted, if desired, and the flaps 3 and 1 pinned or otherwise secured to the corsets.

Of course any form of fastening devices may be substituted for the buttons and holes and non-elastic for elastic tapes, and vice versa, the invention not being limited to such details.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have produced an extremely safe, simple, durable, sanitary, pliable, comfortable. and convenient eatamenial sack which will thoroughly protect the clothing, is free from metal, may be freely laundered, and may be worn with or without a belt, and is not calculated to destroy the wearers shape or set of her clothes. It is also cool and ab sorbs perspiration and prevents resultant ehaf= ing of the parts.

VVc are aware that heretofore catamenial sacks have been devised which included in their make-up a middle or saddle portion designed to receive an absorbent and having at their opposite sides depending wings. in such instances, however, the wings or shields did not afiord, the same amount of protection as by our invention, and this by reason of the fact that the meeting edges of the section and the wings were straight, and hence when the device was in the position for use and subjected to the usual longitudinal strain said wings or shields would be caused to curl up and under the saddle portion, and therefore prevent it from serving the useful function for which they were devised. By our invention, however, no matter what strain the device is under itmust be in line with the curved seam formed by the meeting edges, so that as a matter of fact the more snugly the device is applied to the person the more snugly will the wings or shields hug or cling to the legs of the wearer.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Theherein-described catamcnial sack, the same comprising a main saddle portion having a narrow front portion and from about its longitudinal middle gradually widened on curved lines forming opposite concaved edges and terminating in a rear widened portion, and opposite shields depending from said opposite concaved edges, said shields having those of its edges joining such coneaved edges of the saddle portion similarly or concave shaped, whereby the saddle when the device is I positioned, approximates the posterior and therefrom, and attaching means at the front end and at the rear corners of the said saddle portion, whereby the line of draft is along the opposite side seams.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARY E. COLEMAN. MEYER. JARMULOWSKY.

Witnesses:

S. B. GooDALE, HANNAH GRAFF. 

